Revenue and Customs

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Treasury Ministers on steps being taken by that Department to alleviate any effects on local employment of the closure or downgrading of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Wales.

Paul Murphy: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with treasury Ministers on a range of issues, including the HMRC Change programme.
	I understand that before withdrawing from any office, a full impact assessment is undertaken, assessing the impact on staff, customers and the local economy.

Energy Efficiency: Public Buildings

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings.

Phil Woolas: Central Government have stretching targets for sustainable operations on its estate, including in relation to energy efficiency. We have announced a series of measures in our response to the Sustainable Development Commission's latest annual report.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the commitment in the Gleneagles G8 Climate Change Action Plan to promote the International Energy Agency's 1 Watt Initiative.

Phil Woolas: The "One Watt" Initiative was launched by the International Energy Agency in 1997 with the aim of reducing standby power consumption for new appliances to one watt or less by 2010.
	At Gleneagles, the G8—led by the UK—agreed to promote the application of the one watt initiative and the UK has been working with retailers and manufacturers to design out the use of wasteful standby functions and we are moving to adopt the one watt standard as part of our own procurement policy.
	The UK has also been pressing for regulatory action to achieve this at the European level. Work under the Eco-design for Energy-using Products Framework Directive (EuP) is going well and we are expecting mandatory minimum standards for standby by the end of 2009, with a one watt horizontal requirement for most energy using products in place by 2010.

Floods: Felixstowe

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the meeting notes of the meeting held between the right hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal and the then Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Derby South, to discuss Felixstowe's flood defences.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 9 June 2008
	I will write to the right hon. Member when I have more information.

Water Supply

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether he plans to introduce additional enforcement measures to ensure water efficiency;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the reduction in average daily household water usage in the East of England likely to be achieved on an annual basis by 2021; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his benchmark figure is for daily household water usage  (a) in new developments and  (b) in all developments;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of daily household water usage in Hertfordshire.

Phil Woolas: A minimum benchmark figure for the design of new homes will be established by revision of the building regulations to be introduced in April 2009. The design performance standard of 125 litres per person per day is proposed. Additional benchmarks have been established in The Code for Sustainable Homes which set out higher levels of water efficiency. The ambition of an average daily household water usage of 130 litres per person per day by 2030, or less, within existing developments, was set out in the Government's water strategy 'Future Water'.
	Daily household water usage data is reported by Ofwat in their Security of Supply Report. The average per capita consumption for consumers of Three Valleys Water who supply consumers in Hertfordshire was 168 litres per person per day in 2006-07.
	Water companies are currently consulting on their draft Water Resource Management Plans; these set out their views on the future level of water consumption between 2010 and 2035.
	The new water efficiency requirements to be introduced within Part G of Building Regulations and the review of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations will require improved water efficiency performance in new and existing premises, and will be enforced through current mechanisms set in both sets of Regulations.

Water Supply: East of England

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of drought conditions in Hertfordshire by 2021.

Phil Woolas: Based on climate change scenarios derived from Hadley Centre's Regional Climate Model which suggests that the frequency of 'short' droughts, lasting one or two seasons, would increase significantly by the 2050s and be common place by the 2080s, it is expected that there will be an increase in the frequency of short droughts in Hertfordshire by 2021. These projections are based on modelling studies that contain inherent uncertainties, meaning that the actual frequency of droughts that will be experienced in future may be more or less than these estimates.
	All water companies, including those supplying Hertfordshire, will need to identify measures to increase resilience of water supply against increased frequency of drought in their Water Resources Management Plans, which are currently subject to consultation. These measures should include demand and supply side options to maintain a supply-demand balance.
	Water companies have statutory drought plans which set out how a company will meet essential demands for water in times of drought. Drought plans are prepared every three years and are subject to public consultation.

Airports: Public Safety Zones

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 425W, on airports: public safety zones, what factors will be taken into account in deciding the order in which the public safety zones will be reviewed under the phased review.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The principle factor in deciding the order of review of public safety zones will be the increase in total aircraft movements against the forecast figure provided when the current zones were established; airports showing the strongest growth will be the first reviewed.
	It is likely that a small number of airports will be taken out of order to reflect local circumstances such as airport development.

Cycleways: Construction

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the average cost per mile of new cycle path construction.

Rosie Winterton: Local highway authorities are responsible for the delivery of cycle tracks and paths. They do so within their unring-fenced blockgrant for Local Transport.
	The Department therefore does not hold information on cycle track/path construction costs. Furthermore the cost of an off-road cycle track/path varies greatly, especially depending on the design and location.
	Sustrans, the promoters of the National Cycle Network estimate that the average cost of a mile of off-road cycle track costs around £45,000.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1014W, on Heathrow Airport, which  (a) existing guidelines and  (b) long-term targets recommended by the World Health Organisation were taken into account when preparing options for expansion included in the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation document;
	(2)  how many people live in areas of the UK where aviation noise is classified as dangerous by the World Health Organisation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The reference in my earlier reply of 2 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1014W, to WHO guidelines and long-term targets was in the context of noise policy generally, and was not specific to Heathrow.
	The WHO guidelines for community noise (WHO, 1999) are essentially values for the onset of health effects. These are levels that would produce no significant health effects for the population at large. The WHO have recommended that the guidelines should be adopted as long term targets for improving human health which the Government have stated that it will take into account.
	The WHO guideline targets and the Government definition of significant community annoyance are not incompatible but do not read across directly. The WHO values are set at the level below which there is no impact from annoyance on human health—the Government value is set in terms of community annoyance.

M6

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when she expects the Highways Agency to implement its proposals for widening the M6 between junctions 11A and 19; and what estimate she has made of the cost of the scheme;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 171W, on the M1:M62, when she expects the Highways Agency to publish its findings on active traffic management measures for the M62 and M1.

Tom Harris: On 4 March 2008 the Secretary of State published the 'Advanced Motorway Signalling and Traffic Management Feasibility Study'. The Secretary of State also announced that the Department of Transport and the Highways Agency would undertake additional detailed work examining managed motorway schemes for those areas identified in the feasibility study as being a high priority, including stretches of the M1, M6 and M62. This includes examining whether hard shoulder running could provide a better value for money solution for schemes which were previously planned as widenings, and this will include the production of cost estimates for these hard shoulder running schemes.
	As part of this process, the cost estimates for the widening schemes following the Nichols review are subject to further work and validation. This work is under way and due to be complete by the end of the year. The results of this work will inform decisions on the composition of the roads programme and the tinning of schemes within it.

Road Traffic: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will visit Canvey Island during the rush hour period to meet residents and commuters to discuss ways to reduce congestion.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State for Transport is very aware of the issues facing Canvey Island, particularly when a road traffic collision occurs. At this stage in time, however, the Secretary of State' diary does not permit a visit. However, it is hoped a future ministerial visit to see progress with a range of transport projects in the Thames Gateway area could be arranged.

Roads: Safety

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the average cost of installing a speed hump.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of road humps can vary considerably, depending on the materials used. The indicative costs shown of constructing various types of road humps are shown in the following table which is extracted from Table 4.2 of 'Local Transport Note 1/07 Traffic Calming' which constitutes the Department for Transport's latest guidance on traffic calming.
	
		
			  Hump type  Cost (£) 
			 Round-top hump 400-1,000 
			 Flat-top hump >500 
			 Raised junction approx.10,000 
			 'S' hump 2,000 
			 'H' hump 2500 
			 Thermoplastic hump (thump) 300-500 
			 Speed cushion 240-700 
			 Pair of speed cushions 500-2000 
			  Note: Table shows the indicative cost of road humps. Costs given are approximate and for guidance only and do not include an allowance for inflation since the reports informing these prices were published.

Transport

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account is taken of the time taken for journeys by different modes of transport when appraising transport schemes.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport appraises proposed transport schemes using the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA). Journey time impacts across all modes of transport are included in every NATA appraisal, and form an important element of the benefits of transport interventions.
	For the purpose of valuing changes in the duration of journeys NATA distinguishes between working, commuting and leisure trips. This reflects a large body of evidence on the values of time spent travelling. The values used in appraisal are provided by the WebTAG resource available at:
	http://www.webtag.org.uk/webdocuments/3_Expert/5_Economy _Objective/3.5.6.htm
	Most journey time savings typically accrue to people who are travelling in their own time, and are valued at either £5.04 per hour or £4.46 in 2002 prices, depending on whether time is saved from a journey to work or another destination. This is irrespective of the mode used.
	Transport schemes also reduce times taken for work-related journeys. These benefits are valued according to the average labour costs of individuals who travel by different modes of transport. The average value of working time across all working persons is £26.73 in 2002 prices. Further details of the values of working time applied in transport appraisals are set out in table 1 in the transport analysis guidance unit linked to above. A copy of the table is as follows. These do differ by mode: evidence indicates that business travellers are selective in the modes used during work, with the most productive business trips using taxi, with rail and underground also being of high value.
	
		
			  Table 1: Values of working time per person 
			  £ per hour, 2002 prices and values 
			  Vehicle occupant  Market price 
			 Car driver 26.43 
			 Car passenger 18.94 
			 LGV (driver or passenger) 10.18 
			 OGV (driver or passenger) 10.18 
			 PSV driver 10.18 
			 PSV passenger 20.22 
			 Taxi driver 9.77 
			 Taxi/Minicab passenger 44.69 
			 Rail passenger 36.96 
			 Underground passenger 35.95 
			 Walker 29.64 
			 Cyclist 17.00 
			 Motorcyclist 23.91 
			 Average of all working persons 26.73

Climate Change

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps are being taken by his Department to implement the recommendations of the second limb of the Stern Report, with particular reference to  (a) technological developments and  (b) carbon capture storage policy.

Malcolm Wicks: BERR welcomes the release of Lord Stern's Key Elements of a Global Deal paper. We hope it will stimulate debate, and more importantly, action. The report's findings will continue to feed into the Government's thinking on climate change.
	BERR is working to promote technology and investment cooperation both in the UK and overseas through a range of initiatives such as the Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). It also works with the Technology Strategy Board, the Energy Technologies Institute, the Carbon Trust and the Research Councils to ensure a cohesive approach to innovation.
	Between 2002 and 2008 the UK spent over £500 million on research and development in low carbon technologies, with funding continuing under the ETF. The creation of the Energy Technologies Institute in late 2007, a partnership between the public and private sectors, will coordinate up to £1 billion worth of RD and D funding into low carbon energy technology over the next 10 years.
	The Government recognise the global potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and is working in a number of ways to support its development. This includes a competition to develop the UK's first commercial-scale demonstration of CCS and supporting smaller scale R and D and demonstration of CCS technology, developing EU and domestic regulatory regimes for the safe and reliable storage of CO2 as well as amending international treaties to enable CCS technology. We are also working through the EU, G8, IEA and bilaterally to encourage the development and deployment of CCS internationally. Working towards a global consensus on the urgency of the need to demonstrate and deploy CCS has been a particular priority and we are working with EU partners to realise the Commission's ambition for up to 12 commercial scale CCS projects by 2015. We also strongly support the IEA's call to the G8 for 20 demonstration projects to be launched by 2010, and on leading the campaign to have this referred to in the final text at both the Energy Ministers and the Leaders Summit.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he has taken to publicise the Local Carbon Buildings Programme to  (a) homeowners and  (b) local authorities.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are working with the Energy Saving Trust to promote the Low Carbon Buildings Programme household funding stream. To date, we have used both their advice network and market segmentation models to target those that are most likely to install microgeneration technologies and apply for grants. Further details are available at:
	www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
	BERR is currently working with the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 programme manager, to deliver a national awareness raising campaign at a series of regional events. They have been promoting the scheme through combination of articles, advertorials and advertising in media serving all target sectors. 50,000 promotional flyers have been produced and distributed to journals and potential applicants. We expect around 700 people from eligible organisations and local authorities to participate in the events.
	We also continue to investigate and pursue other avenues for promotion of the scheme. For example, working with colleagues from other Government Departments, BERR officials speak regularly at events and conferences to promote the programme. Promotional activities have also been undertaken by the framework suppliers of phase II of the LCBP.
	We have also published an energy measures report for local authorities compiling information they can use to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the levels of microgeneration in their communities.
	Further details of the report can be obtained from:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/environment/measures/page41270.html

Piracy

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps have been taken  (a) by the UK and  (b) with other countries to protect (i) marine trade routes and (ii) critical parts of marine trade routes to and from the UK from (A) piracy, (B) accidents and (C) other forms of disruption; what assessment has been made of the levels of such risks on each route; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government take a proactive role in working with our international partners, such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and foreign governments and the shipping industry to develop international legislation and guidance for shipping transiting trade routes. At both Government and operational levels this includes collaborating with other navies and coastguards through a series of combined operations and strategic alliances to ensure that the vital sea lanes and choke points are safe to navigate. Also, the Government monitor and assess the risk of terrorism to sea lanes and, as appropriate, sets the security level for UK and Red Ensign Group registered ships operating in these areas and advises industry accordingly.
	The Government also issue guidance to industry in measures to counter piracy and armed robbery and safe distances of transit in piracy hotspots.
	Recently, the UK co-sponsored the UNSC resolution addressing the problem of piracy off Somalia. Under the terms of resolution 1816 (2008), which was adopted unanimously, the Security Council decided that states co-operating with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) would be allowed, for a period of six months, to enter the country's territorial waters and use "all necessary means" to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, in a manner consistent with relevant provisions of international law.
	Furthermore, the Government are committed to ratifying into UK law the 2005 protocols to the convention for the suppression of unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation, by way of the proposed Transport Security Bill. Notably, this Bill will provide powers to board ships that are suspected of being involved in acts of piracy.
	The UK plays an active role in the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee and Subcommittee on the Safety of Navigation to prevent accidents at sea. In this forum we seek consensus on ships' routeing measures to reduce the risk of groundings or collisions.
	Where UK waters are concerned, moreover, the Government have a strategic approach to protecting the UK's seas and coasts which involves all of the following:
	we have put in place a network of shore-based stations around the UK coastline to monitor vessel traffic, using automatic identification system technology;
	we ensure that powerful tug boats (commonly referred to as "emergency towing vessels") are available, so that they can assist ships which lose motive power;
	we have established arrangements whereby a ship requiring assistance, and whose condition needs to be stabilised, can be brought to a place of refuge;
	we have a highly effective structure for command and control of an incident, in which the Secretary of State's representative for maritime salvage and intervention (SOSREP) plays a major role;
	we have a fully developed national contingency plan, consistent with the international convention on oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation 1990 (the "OPRC Convention"); and
	we participate actively in international assistance and co-operation arrangements of a bipartite, multipartite or regional nature, again consistent with the OPRC convention.

Social Security Benefits: Arrears

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the reduction in backdating periods for pension credit, council tax benefit and housing benefit; and what estimate he has made of the number of claims for backdating for periods of over three months in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 6 June 2008
	The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) is currently consulting on the package of regulations which include the changes to the time allowed for pensioners to claim pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit and reducing the backdating period for housing benefit and council tax benefit customers of working age. Once the consultation period is over the SSAC will produce a report which will include a summary of the representations they have received. The SSAC report and the Secretary of State's response to the consultation will be published. A number of representations have been submitted directly to the Department, these will all receive due consideration.
	I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1699W, which provides available data on the number of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit claims backdated for over three months over the last five years.

Africa: Peacekeeping Operations

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with African Union member states on the contribution of military forces to the African Union peacekeeping operations in  (a) Sudan and  (b) Somalia.

Meg Munn: My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, and senior officials have recently discussed, with several African countries, their current and potential troop contributions to the UN-African Union (AU) Mission in Darfur, including at the AU summit from 31 January-1 February.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has discussed the Ugandan deployment to the AU Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) with President Museveni. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, have raised deployment to AMISOM with Ghana and Nigeria, who have indicated that they were willing to contribute troops.

Cuba: Human Rights

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the Cuba government's decision to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Meg Munn: Cuba's signature of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a welcome signal. Our assessment is that Cuba is not currently in a position to comply with all the terms of the covenant and there are notable short comings which Cuba will have to address. We look forward to implementation of the terms of the covenant by Cuba and ratification by the People's Assembly, when the covenant will become binding under international law.

International Relations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed in the meetings of 11 to 12 May 2008 between the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State for Europe and the Minister of State for Africa, Asia and the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, and I met separately with the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Gisladottir, on 12 May 2008.
	My discussions with Mrs. Gisladottir covered both bilateral and multilateral issues including Iceland's candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the current situation in Afghanistan, the European economic area financial mechanism and the discussions between the UK, Iceland, Ireland and Denmark on the subject of the continental shelf in the Hatton Rockall area of the north-east Atlantic. I also raised whaling with Mrs. Gisladottir.
	My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, and Mrs. Gisladottir discussed political developments in Africa, the current situation in Somalia, and an Icelandic initiative to promote sustainable fisheries in southern Africa.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to respond to the letter of 26 March 2008 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on meeting the Dalai Lama.

Meg Munn: holding answer 10 June 2008
	My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, replied to the hon. Member on 1 May.

Uganda: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the situation in northern Uganda; whether he met the Paramount Chief of the Acholi, His Highness Rwot Onen Acana II, on his recent visit to London; what involvement he has had in the ongoing talks in Juba; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Despite the stalled talks in the Juba peace process the situation in northern Uganda remains stable. Our officials have closely monitored the peace process and have maintained regular contact with the Ugandan government, leaders in northern Uganda and former President Chissano's team. The Government have provided financial and political support to the peace process and is considering what further support to provide to continue to promote sustainable peace and development in the region.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials were unable to meet with His Highness Rwot Onen Acana II on his recent visit to London, but hope to do so in the future.

Uganda: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the whereabouts of General Otti, a former leader of the Lords Resistance Army in northern Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no recent reports on the whereabouts of Vincent Otti. The last reports received indicate that Otti was killed by Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony in October 2007.

Iraq: Asylum

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made with the programme for funding displaced Iraqis within that country and in Syria; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: Since 2003, DFID has committed over £149 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq, £17 million of which has been allocated for this year. We have channelled our assistance to a variety of international organisations working to provide assistance to the most vulnerable people displaced inside Iraq and in the region. Support provided through these organisations includes food, water, shelter and medicine.
	We are also working to promote a coordinated international effort in response to humanitarian situation, with the Government of Iraq (GoI) in the lead. The GoI has recognised it holds primary responsibility for the welfare of its people and is working to address the humanitarian situation inside the country. To that end, the GoI last week allocated $40 million to the World Food Programme, to assist in the provision of food for internally displaced people. The UK is also encouraging the GoI to take a lead in providing financial support to Iraqi refugees in the wider region, and we are seeing some progress being made. The GoI has allocated $25 million to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan to support Iraqis who are currently living there, and very recently announced $195 million to support voluntary returnees from the region back to Iraq.
	However, while international aid is vital in supporting the most vulnerable Iraqis—both within Iraq and in the wider region—the longer term solution to the humanitarian problem hinges on sustainable improvements in the security situation. Currently refugees that have been interviewed in the region have said they do not wish to return to Iraq because they believe it is unsafe to do so. The UNHCR, who lead on refugee issues, has also made it clear that the situation in Iraq does not currently warrant mass refugee return. Therefore, security must be the Iraqi Government's top priority, to allow displaced people to feel safe enough to return home.

West Bank: Overseas Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK aid he estimates reached internally displaced people in the West Bank in each year since 1997; and what factors have slowed the distribution of aid.

Douglas Alexander: There is no internationally agreed upon definition of what constitutes internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the context of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). United Nations agencies do not systematically collect data on the multiple triggers of internal displacement (e.g. house demolition) in the OPTs nor on the size of the various IDP populations therein.
	UK support to the OPTs benefits Palestinians, including IDPs, in both the West Bank, Gaza and—for refugees—also the wider the region. The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the Palestinian Authority (PA) to provide services such as health and education and for on-going technical assistance to the PA in taking forward reforms. DFID also provides assistance dedicated specifically to Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This helps UNRWA provide health, education and other services to 4.5 million Palestinian refugees in the region, including over a million refugees in Gaza and over 700,000 in the West Bank. Since 1996-97, the UK has provided nearly £295 million in assistance to the Palestinian people.
	
		
			  £000 
			   Financial aid  Technical cooperation  Humanitarian assistance  Grants and other aid in kind  Total ( 1) Total UNRWA 
			 1996-97 1,181 2,236 50 2,681 6,148 8,140 
			 1997-98 963 2,741 59 2,329 6,091 10,042 
			 1998-99 5 2,914 94 2,167 5,180 3,336 
			 1999-2000 628 3,903 0 3,459 7,990 12,737 
			 2000-01 791 4,065 569 3,570 8,996 17,768 
			 2001-02 218 4,186 4,567 5,557 14,528 24,209 
			 2002-03 0 4,650 4,534 5,982 15,165 18,708 
			 2003-04 0 5,380 0 11,461 16,841 23,646 
			 2004-05 7,575 5,293 1,800 2,897 17,565 17,229 
			 2005-06 10,335 3,689 0 1,034 15,058 14,985 
			 2006-07 11,914 2,895 223 163 15,196 15,015 
			 2007-08(2) — — — — 48,000 15,600 
			 Total 33,610 41,950 11,897 41,300 128,757 165,816 
			 (1) Covers support to Palestinian refugees in the OPTs, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.  (2) Provisional figures. 
		
	
	The UK aligns its support to the PA to the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan and does not subdivide its support between Gaza and the West Bank. UNRWA generally allocates around 30 per cent. of its budget to Gaza, 16 per cent. to the West Bank and the remaining to help other Palestinian refugees in the region.
	Movement and access restrictions undermine the effectiveness of humanitarian operations and impose additional costs on humanitarian agencies. The UK continues to call on Israel to ease those restrictions in order to alleviate the humanitarian situation and allow the Palestinian economy to grow. Despite the obstacles, assistance is reaching those who need it. Our funding to UNRWA supports the delivery of medical and social services, education and some food aid to social hardship cases.

Holiday Play Schemes

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average number of hours children spent attending a holiday play scheme per day in each year for which records are available;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of children in  (a) Basingstoke,  (b) Hampshire and  (c) England had access to holiday play schemes in each year for which records are available.

Beverley Hughes: The 2006 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collected information on child care provision in England. The estimated number of children attending holiday clubs in England was 352,500 in 2006 compared to 233,800 in 2003. Data is not available at local authority level.
	An accurate estimate of the proportion of children attending holiday play schemes cannot be provided as children may access holiday provision in other types of child care settings. Data is not available on the number of children attending other child care providers in school holidays.
	Data on the average number of hours per day that children attend holiday play schemes is not collected centrally.

Schools: Sports

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in each London borough took part in after-school sports in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: Data is not collected centrally in the format requested.
	The annual School Sport Survey has been running for the past four years, but the survey has only collected data by local authority since 2004/05. The following table sets out the percentage of pupils in each local authority taking part in at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport in a typical week for the last three years. Direct comparisons between local authorities are not appropriate as the number of schools in school sport partnerships, and the length of time they have been within partnerships, differs. Since September 2006, all maintained schools in England have been within a school sport partnership.
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils taking part in at least two hours high quality PE and sport a week by London borough 
			  London borough  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			 Barking and Dagenham 55 58 80 
			 Barnet 80 84 82 
			 Bexley 70 75 86 
			 Brent 64 81 83 
			 Bromley 76 82 88 
			 Camden 69 72 82 
			 Croydon 61 70 82 
			 Ealing 66 88 89 
			 Enfield 72 77 87 
			 Greenwich 71 73 78 
			 Hackney 49 67 84 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 51 62 88 
			 Haringey 54 80 89 
			 Harrow 72 72 84 
			 Havering 71 74 81 
			 Hillingdon 61 75 82 
			 Hounslow 76 78 82 
			 Islington 58 75 88 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 50 74 88 
			 Kingston upon Thames 76 69 82 
			 Lambeth 83 89 82 
			 Lewisham 66 71 89 
			 Merton 60 84 87 
			 Newham 79 86 91 
			 Redbridge 76 76 80 
			 Richmond upon Thames 80 86 91 
			 Southwark 67 72 87 
			 Sutton 59 75 88 
			 Tower Hamlets 60 62 81 
			 Waltham Forest 69 63 87 
			 Wandsworth 72 88 89 
			 Westminster 55 72 87

Schools: Transport

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils below the age of eight years use school-provided transport, broken down by county.

Jim Knight: The available information held centrally relates to mode of travel to school, and does not separately identify school-provided transport.
	The Department does not hold complete data relating to mode of travel to school. Provision of this information is only compulsory for those schools with an approved travel plan. The scope of collection includes: maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, city technology colleges, academies and special schools.
	In the spring 2007 School Census, mode of travel data was supplied for almost 70 per cent. of pupils. The available national level information relating to pupils aged less than eight is provided in the table. An analysis at county level could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	Updated information relating to spring 2008 is expected to be available by the end of June 2008.
	
		
			  Nursery, primary, secondary and special schools( 1) : number of pupils aged less than eight by mode of travel( 2, 3) , As at January 2007, England 
			   Pupils aged less than 8( 2) 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Walk 1,012,590 40.6 
			 Cycle 16,160 0.6 
			 Car/van 654,230 26.2 
			 Car share 50,880 2.0 
			 Public service bus 22,370 0.9 
			 Dedicated school bus 26,310 1.1 
			 Bus (type not known) 8,040 0.3 
			 Taxi 12,060 0.5 
			 Train 640 0.0 
			 London underground 300 0.0 
			 Metro/tram/light rail 320 0.0 
			 Boarding pupil—not applicable 30 0.0 
			 Other 7,840 0.3 
			 Mode of travel—not collected 683,640 27.4 
			 Total 2,495,390 100.0 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. Includes city technology colleges, academies, maintained and non-maintained special schools. (2 )Includes pupils aged less than eight as at 31 August 2006. Includes pupils with sole and dual (main) registration. (3 )Where a pupil uses more than one mode of travel for each journey to school, the longest element of the journey by distance should be recorded.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census.

Tax Credit Office: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for a reply to be sent to the letter of 8 April sent to the Tax Credit Office in Preston by the hon. Member for Walsall North regarding a constituent.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 5 June 2008
	 Tax Credit Office wrote to my hon. Friend on 2 May 2008 in response to his letter and one from his constituents, both of which were received in April 2008.

Taxation: Pensioners

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners in receipt of the state pension are UK income tax payers; and what percentage of the overall national income tax revenue was attributable to pensioners in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: There are an estimated 5.0 million taxpayers of state pension age or above for 2008-09. It is not possible to calculate exactly how many individuals in receipt of the basic state pension are tax payers. Their income tax liability accounts for around 8.8 per cent. of estimated total income tax liability for 2008-09.

Alcoholic Drinks: Children

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how levels of child binge drinking are measured; and how these levels have changed over the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no agreed definition of binge drinking for young people. The Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use survey of secondary school children in England provides national estimates of the proportions of young people aged 11 to 15 who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. We have used this data between 2001 and 2006 to summarise the units of alcohol consumed by young people in the previous seven days.
	
		
			  Units of alcohol consumed in last seven days by pupils in the SDD survey, 2001-06 
			   Percentage 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Number alcohol drunk in last week 77.2 79.3 78.5 80.4 81.0 82.6 
			 More than 0 but less than four units of alcohol drunk in last week 8.0 6.1 7.0 6.0 5.9 5.4 
			 Four to less than eight units of alcohol drunk in last week 5.2 4.9 5.4 4.4 4.8 3.9 
			 Eight to less than 12 units of alcohol drunk in last week 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1 2.7 2.3 
			 12 to less than 20 units of alcohol drunk in last week 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.1 2.9 3.0 
			 20 or more units of alcohol drunk in last seven days 3.0 2.9 2.5 3.0 2.7 2.8 
		
	
	Data taken from the Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2001-06 surveys published by the NHS information Centre and Department of Health.
	The table shows the percentage of young people not drinking any alcohol in the last seven days has increased over the last five years, from 77.2 per cent. in 2001 to 82.6 per cent. in 2006. Also the percentage of pupils drinking less than eight units has similarly decreased from 13.2 per cent. in 2001 to 9.3 per cent. in 2006. However the percentage of pupils drinking eight or more units in the last seven days has remained fairly stable between 2001 and 2006.

Border and Immigration Agency: Pay

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in the Border and Immigration Agency were given performance-related bonuses or cash payments over £10,000 in each of the last five years; and how much was paid in such payments in each such year.

Liam Byrne: There are no records of staff members being paid bonuses in excess of £10,000 in 2004-05 and 2005-06. One member of staff received performance-related bonus of £12,197 in 2006-07. Data on performance-related bonus payments paid in previously years is not centrally recorded and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Data is not yet available on bonus payments for 2007-08.

Borders: Channel Tunnel

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from businesses involved with operations through the Channel Tunnel about the introduction of e-borders; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Representations have been received from a number of businesses which include Eurotunnel, the British Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Tour Operators.
	The Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) consultation held from 1 August 2007 to 24 October 2007 also had responses from across industry (including Eurotunnel) and subsequently elements of the RIA were amended to reflect the concerns of industry.
	The e-borders programme continues to engage with the industry to resolve the concerns and to develop a solution which both improves security at the UK border and takes account of the business needs of industry.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list the special advisers employed in her Department since 6 May 1997; and what the  (a) start and  (b) end date of employment was in each case.

Liam Byrne: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-50WS.
	Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special advisers her Department employs; and what the cost of employing special advisers was in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office currently employs two special advisers. Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147WS-150WS.
	Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library of the House.

Entry Clearances

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa centres her Department has in  (a) Russia,  (b) India and  (c) China.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 June 2008
	There are three Visa Application Centres in Russia, 12 in India and 12 in China.

Entry Clearances: Students

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas were offered under the HOPS student exchange programme in 2008; and what representations she has received from farmers on the number of places for migrant labourers to enter the UK on the scheme.

Liam Byrne: The HOPS student exchange programme (HOPS) is not administered by the UK Border Agency. The UK Border Agency has a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) that enables the provision of short term, low skilled workers to be employed in the agricultural industry.
	The SAWS annual quota for 2008 is 16,250. The quota is managed by nine contracted operators who issue work cards on behalf of the UK Border Agency.
	The scheme is exclusively available to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, therefore no visa is required.
	The Secretary of State has received representations from farmers wishing to see an increase in the number of places available on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme and for this scheme to be opened to migrants from outside the European Union.
	Jonathan Shaw, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs at DEFRA and I recently met with the National Farmers' Union and representatives of SAWS operators at which we discussed the labour needs of the agricultural industry and the challenges facing it for the future. We shall continue to keep in touch with the industry on these issues.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 441W, on the Fair Trade initiative, at what buildings fair trade products are  (a) provided and  (b) not provided at official meetings and functions.

Liam Byrne: Fairtrade products are provided for official meetings and functions at 2 Marsham Street, the Home Office Headquarters building. We do not collate information centrally on the availability of Fairtrade goods at other buildings on the Home Office estate.

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will include checks for trafficked victims as part of the new watch list being introduced for aircraft passengers on high-risk routes.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 22 May 2008
	e-Borders will require commercial carriers and owner/operators of all vessels scheduled to arrive in or depart the UK to submit to the e-Borders system, and provide detailed passenger, service and crew data prior to their departure to and from the UK.
	This data will be checked against watchlists, analysed, risk assessed and shared between UK border agencies. It will improve border security and assist in the fight against organised crime and illegal migration.
	The UK Border Agency maintains a watchlist of information and intelligence which is used to inform decisions. It is longstanding policy not to disclose the specific data held on this watchlist or the source of the data on it.

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2008,  Official Report, column 883W, on human trafficking, what definition of the term juxtaposed controls she uses.

Liam Byrne: Juxtaposed controls were introduced in France and Belgium to further strengthen and enhance the protection of the UK borders. Juxtaposed controls are established through bilateral agreements and allow the authorities of two states to operate frontier controls alongside each other in both states. They are fully reciprocal.
	This reciprocal arrangement provides the French authorities with the facilities to operate their frontier control from the United Kingdom, while the UK Border Agency operates the UK frontier control from France and Belgium. This effectively allows UK Border Agency staff to check 100 per cent. of all passengers and their documents before they disembark to enter the UK. The French authorities, Police Aux Frontieres (PAF), are responsible for managing the security of the French border and do so from the English side of the juxtaposed control.
	Juxtaposed controls have existed at the Channel Tunnel sites in Coquelles and Cheriton since the opening of the Tunnel System in 1994. The arrangements are governed by the Sangatte Protocol under the treaty of Canterbury. On 29 May 2000, the Additional Protocol to the Sangatte Protocol was signed to allow commencement of juxtaposed controls at designated Eurostar terminals in France.
	The Anglo-French Le Touquet Treaty was signed on 4 February 2003, giving UK Border Agency staff the power to operate a juxtaposed control in France at the northern French Seaports of Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque.
	Juxtaposed controls currently operate at Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque ferry ports, as well as the Eurotunnel terminal at Coquelles, and the Eurostar stations of Brussels, Paris, Lille and Frethun.
	The French authorities operate their controls in the UK at St. Pancras, Ebsfleet, Ashford International, Dover and Cheriton. These are the UK terminals which are currently served by the French operations covered under the terms of the various Treaties and Protocols which govern the operation of juxtaposed controls.

Identity Cards: Foreigners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 88W, on identity cards: foreigners, for what reasons the fingerprint biometrics will be stored on an embedded chip in an identity card instead of holding fingerprint records centrally.

Liam Byrne: Two fingerprints will be stored on an embedded chip in an identity card for foreign nationals to comply with EU regulations, however, a full set of fingerprints will also be held on the same database already used to store fingerprints recorded by foreign nationals when applying for visas.

Immigration Controls

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from the catering industry on the points-based immigration system; which groups she met as part of the development process of the points-based system before it was introduced; how many catering or restaurant groups and organisations she met as part of the development process; and what processes will exist to monitor the sex, age and country of origin of immigrants entering the UK through the points-based system.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office sent its consultation on proposals for a points based system to 52 representative groups and employers in the hospitality and catering industry and received 10 responses. I have had meetings with interest groups on the development of the points based system including the Bangladeshi Caterers Association and representatives of the Chinese community. The British Hospitality Association is represented on the Employer Taskforce which, as a consultative group, has informed development of the points based system. The Home Office will publish an equality impact assessment when it publishes a statement of intent in respect of its proposals for tier 2 of the points based system and this will indicate what measures will be put in place to monitor race, age and gender impacts.

Immigration: Local Authorities

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 96W, on immigration: local authorities, which local authorities have  (a) expressed an interest in submitting claims and  (b) submitted a claim to the transitional costs fund; what the value of claims submitted is; what the timetable for (i) submitting claims and (ii) receiving payment is; and what plans she has for a transitional costs fund for subsequent years.

Liam Byrne: We do not hold information centrally on those local authorities who have expressed an interest in submitting a claim.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply published on 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 276W.
	Originally the timetable was for initial claims to be made by January 15 with payment by February, further claims to be made by 30 April with payment by May/June 2008 and remaining claims for 2007-08 were requested to be received by 30 June 2008. The 30 April deadline was extended to 23 May in order to give local authorities more time to complete their claim. Final claims for reimbursement during 2008-09 should be made by 31 March 2009.
	In regard to future plans the UK Border Agency will be in touch with key local stakeholders including local authorities, via the regional links already in place to further discuss how we can best plan the conclusionof cases going forward in their local area.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency plans to respond to the letter of 27 March 2008 from the hon. Member for Walsall North on a constituent, reference M4885/8.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5June 2008
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 5 June 2008.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency will reply to the right hon. Member for Warley's letter of 11 April 2008 regarding Mr Z. S. Suleiman.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency wrote to the right hon. Member on 5 June 2008.

Fines: Surcharges

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what charitable and voluntary organisations which provide support to victims of domestic violence and abuse received support from the Victims' Surcharge Fund in 2007-08; how much each organisation received; and what procedures there are for applications to be made to the funds;
	(2)  what criteria charitable and voluntary groups concerned with redress for domestic violence and abuse have to meet to be eligible for payments from the Victims' Surcharge Fund.

Bridget Prentice: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 272-75W.
	Services supporting the 64 specialist domestic violence courts in operation at the end of 2006-07 were automatically considered for funding for 2007-08 upon receipt of satisfactory performance information.
	Invitations to bid for funding were sent on 8 June 2007 from the SDVC steering group to all Home Office regional directors, Government office DV leads, the SDVC expert panel, Crown Prosecution Service co-ordinators, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership chairs, HMCS area directors and Justices' clerks. Those contacts were asked to forward the invitation to services in non-SDVC areas and those whom they knew to be interested in SDVC accreditation.
	Services were invited to apply for funding on the provision of service workload information, level of accredited training completed, supervision and monitoring structures, evidence of partnership working (for example their level of involvement with multi-agency risk assessment conferences), plans to develop a SDVC and/or other project initiative such as links to support in the family courts.

Fines: Surcharges

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which men's support groups have received awards from the Victims' Surcharge Fund in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The revenue raised from the Victims Surcharge has been used to fund a wide range of services for victims and witnesses. This includes: Witness Care Units; Victim Support Plus; Independent Domestic Violence Advisors; and the Victims Fund. Many of these services are not gender specific. Survivors UK, which provides targeted support for male victims of sexual abuse and rape, received a grant of £30,000 in 2007-08 from the Victims Fund. This grant has been renewed for 2008-09.

Mortgages: Repossession Orders

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court orders were issued for the repossession of homes in  (a) Hemel Hempstead constituency,  (b) each local authority area in Hertfordshire and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: The following tables show the number of mortgage and landlord possession orders made in all county courts in the Hertfordshire region and in England since 1997.
	These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts, since not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
	The civil procedure rules state that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. However, county courts' jurisdictions are not coterminous with the borough boundaries, and therefore any single court's repossession actions are likely to relate to homes in a number of different boroughs.
	
		
			  Table 1: Mortgage( 1)  possession orders( 2, 3 ) in the county courts( 4)  of Hertfordshire since 1997 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Hertford(5) 111 189 103 86 58 78 88 86 134 198 — 
			 Hitchin(5) 252 402 218 151 154 151 155 183 288 321 — 
			 St. Albans(5) 77 68 72 59 53 45 87 78 102 158 — 
			 Watford 188 463 284 241 217 224 249 258 418 516 508 
			 Hemel Hempstead(6) 72 91 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Bishop's Stortford(6) 75 — — — — — — — — — — 
			 
			 Hertfordshire 775 1,213 677 537 482 498 579 605 942 1,193 — 
			 
			 South East 14,019 15,745 9,934 8,936 8,099 7,422 8,201 10,050 15,220 17,693 17,824 
			 
			 England 53,530 61,581 52,370 47,033 44,459 38,631 38,210 44,036 67,019 85,244 88,993 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Landlord( 7, 8, 9)  possession orders( 2, 3 ) in the county courts( 4)  of Hertfordshire since 1999 
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Hertford(5) 288 283 266 217 257 253 247 191 — 
			 Hitchin(5) 435 429 532 505 492 412 375 316 — 
			 St. Albans(5) 276 271 270 230 291 264 290 277 — 
			 Watford 806 848 1,130 935 830 893 907 812 653 
			   
			 Hertfordshire 1,805 1,831 2,198 1,887 1,870 1,822 1,819 1,596 — 
			   
			 South East 19,284 21,730 21,061 21,308 20,336 19,834 19,157 18,093 18,973 
			   
			 England 116,446 121,434 125,477 126,089 114,589 111,782 106,681 100,912 100,761 
			 (1) Mortgage data includes all types of lenders. (2) Orders include both suspended orders and non-suspended orders. (3) The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (4) Does not include the small number of possession actions entered in the High Court. (5) The roll-out of the Possession Claim On-Line (PCOL) system in late 2006 has affected the availability of court-level data on mortgage possession orders. As a result, it is only possible to provide court-level figures for those courts with direct on-site PCOL access for 2007. Therefore, upward adjustments have been made for the missing data at HMCS regional level, which for Hertfordshire is the South East. (6) Courts now closed or merged with other county courts. (7) Landlord data includes all types of landlords. (8) Court level data is not available for all landlord possession actions prior to 1999. (9) Landlord possession orders made through standard and accelerated procedures.  Source: Ministry of Justice.

Empty Property: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of unoccupied domestic properties in  (a) private and  (b) local authority ownership in each London borough.

Iain Wright: The data given as follows provides the information requested:
	
		
			  Vacancies by tenure for London boroughs, 2007 
			   Total empty homes( 1)  LA( 2)  Registered social landlord( 3)  Other public sector( 2)  Private sector( 4) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,064 654 24 0 1,386 
			 Barnet 3,319 94 58 192 2,975 
			 Bexley 2,247 (5)— 135 0 2,112 
			 Brent 2,734 258 247 14 2,215 
			 Bromley 3,537 (5)— 329 0 3,208 
			 Camden 2,726 418 116 0 2,192 
			 City of London 122 2 3 41 76 
			 Croydon 4,052 135 167 7 3,743 
			 Ealing 3,406 316 167 15 2,908 
			 Enfield 3,218 250 68 55 2,845 
			 Greenwich 3,294 604 211 0 2,479 
			 Hackney 3,646 1,051 283 0 2,312 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,300 235 146 21 1,898 
			 Haringey 1,782 160 175 0 1,447 
			 Harrow 1,123 38 100 33 952 
			 Havering 2,854 345 42 0 2,467 
			 Hillingdon 2,069 160 54 120 1,735 
			 Hounslow 1,571 215 69 18 1,269 
			 Islington 2,334 439 189 3 1,703 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,232 56 138 21 3,017 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2,199 44 29 0 2,126 
			 Lambeth 3,475 847 254 12 2,362 
			 Lewisham 1,924 592 272 0 1,060 
			 Merton 1,422 58 37 1 1,326 
			 Newham 4,034 662 152 0 3,220 
			 Redbridge 2,829 22 40 28 2,739 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,958 8 59 12 1,879 
			 Southwark 2,520 1,293 270 0 957 
			 Sutton 2,141 139 23 0 1,979 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,223 271 341 2 1,609 
			 Waltham Forest 2,383 103 184 — 2,096 
			 Wandsworth 1,896 150 105 88 1,553 
			 Westminster 3,962 227 164 103 3,468 
			 (5 )Not applicable since Bexley and Bromley have no local authority stock.  Sources: (1) Council Tax Base 1 as reported by local authorities at October 2007. (2 )Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix as reported by local authorities at 1 April 2007. (3 )Regulatory Statistical Return as reported by Registered Social Landlords at 31 March Residual i.e. CTB total less LA, RSL and other public sector .

Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which districts have held emergency planning measures and resilience scenarios to prepare for future floods following the summer floods of 2007 and the recommendations of the Interim Pitt Review.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Since 2005, the principal mechanism for multi-agency cooperation in preparing for emergencies has been the local resilience forum, based mainly on each police area rather than districts(1), and bringing together the emergency services and other category one and two responders as defined in the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act.
	All local resilience forums are required under the Act to carry out assessments of the risks of emergencies in their areas. Many(2) local resilience forums have a collectively agreed multi-agency flood response plan; and nearly all of the main category one responders within them either contribute to these plans or take account of flooding incidents in their own emergency response plans. Most of the plans that exist had already been reviewed in the period following the summer flooding; and multi-agency plans are being further reviewed following the issue of new guidance from Government in February this year. The Government specifically wrote to all LRF chairs in February and again in May 2008 asking LRFs to let us know how the new guidance was being embedded at a local level. The replies we have had in to date give a clear indication that many LRFs have been very active since the floods last year. In particular, it seems evident that significant effort has gone into identifying the lessons of 2007 and improving local risk assessments, plans and their general state of preparedness (mostly through better activation procedures and clarity over roles and responsibilities).
	(1) For example the North Yorkshire LRF area comprises seven district councils (Selby, Harrogate, Rydale, Scarborough, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Craven) and the City of York. All seven district councils have some form of multi-agency flood response plan.
	(2) According to the initial results of the 2008 national capability survey. A more comprehensive analysis is due to be undertaken shortly.

Homelessness

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the level of homelessness was in each region, in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. The Department does not hold statistics for the devolved administrations.
	Information collected includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	National and regional data on acceptances and temporary accommodation over the last 10 years are published in our quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness, in Tables 3 and 7. The latest release was published on 10 March 2008 and contains data from 1997 to 2007:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/715137
	Since 1998, information has also been collected on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night—and these are also published on our website, nationally and by local authority, and are available up to 2007:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/publicationsabouthomelessness/roughsleepingstatistics/

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many school enterprises have been awarded contracts under the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme to date.

John Healey: None. The Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme is not a scheme for the award of contracts. It is designed to give local authorities an incentive to encourage local business growth, which it does by paying a non-ringfenced grant to authorities where business growth exceeds a certain level, as measured by changes in the business rateable value base.

Local Government Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimates of population her Department uses when calculating the revenue support grant for each local authority.

John Healey: I announced the 2008-09 and provisional 2009-10 and 2010-11 settlements on the 24 January 2008 as part of the first ever three year settlement for local government. The main measures of population used in the calculation of Formula Grant are from the 2004-based sub-national population projections that were published by the Office for National Statistics on 27 September 2007. Projections for 2008, 2009 and 2010 have been used in respective settlement calculations.
	The mid-2006 population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics on 22 August 2007 have also been used within the calculation of other indicators used in the Relative Needs Formulae.
	In all cases, we have used the best data available on a consistent basis for all authorities and available at the time of calculating the allocations.
	The full details of the indicators used for 2008-09 are shown in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2008-09 (HC262) approved by the House on 4 February 2008.

Local Government Finance: East of England

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was allocated to each local authority in the east of England under the Growth Fund Awards for 2008-09; what factors were taken into account in determining these sums; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Details of Growth Fund allocations made to all eligible local authorities or partnerships of local authorities for 2008-09 have been deposited in the Library of the House.
	All local authorities or partnerships eligible for funding were invited to bid through the submission of a programme of development during the summer of 2007. Programmes of development are documents that set out local areas plans and ambitions for growth, including a trajectory for housing delivery and the infrastructure needed to support it, funding already identified and the extra support needed to deliver.
	Funding decisions were based around the assessment of their programmes of development against the key criteria set out in the guidance, with key emphasis on the number of homes to be delivered to 2016 and the scale of the key infrastructure challenges at the location.

Planning Permission: Geology

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures are in place to encourage local authorities to hold discussions with outside bodies on the designation areas of known geological interest in areas affected by planning applications.

Iain Wright: Under provisions of Article 10 of the Town and Planning (Development Procedure) Order 1995, local planning authorities have a duty to consult Natural England before granting planning permission for any development that is in or likely to affect a Site of Special Scientific Interest, including those designated for their geological importance.
	More generally, Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation which sets out the Government's policies on the protection of biodiversity and geological conservation through the planning system advises that regional planning bodies should liaise with the British Geological Survey and, where appropriate, local Regionally Important Geological/geomorphological Sites groups when preparing Regional Spatial Strategies.
	The Town and Country (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (SI No. 293) require local planning authorities to give statutory consultees, non-Government organisations and other public groups, who may have an interest, the opportunity to make representations about proposed developments which are likely to have significant environmental effects. This could include effects on areas of geological interest.

Regional Planning and Development: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and what proportion of the cost of the production of a Canvey town centre master plan will be met by her Department; what the terms of reference for the production of the plan are; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Castle Point borough council has been given an indicative allocation of £2.3 million capital funding from the CLG Thames Gateway programme to take forward the regeneration of Castle Point. The borough council has earmarked around £750,000 for projects in the Canvey Island town centre. Of this CLG funding, £50,000 will be spent on masterplanning the town centre, to match a similar sum the council is seeking from other sources. It will then be for the borough council to draw up terms of reference for the masterplan work. All projects will be required to undergo full appraisal.

Regional Planning and Development: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with Castle Point borough council on gap funding for the Canvey Seafront Improvement scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government received an expression of interest from Castle Point borough council in July 2007 for additional funding of £582,000 for the Canvey Seafront Improvement Scheme as part of the process of drawing up the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan for 2008-11. This was additional to a number of other expressions of interest they made for other projects. Following an evaluation of the submissions received for projects across the Gateway, an indicative allocation of £2,300,000 was made to Castle Point borough council for projects in support of the regeneration of the borough's town centres and industrial estates.

Regional Planning and Development: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what projects were completed in Castle Point constituency by the Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership in each of the last five years; and what funding was provided for the Thames Gateway in each of those years.

Caroline Flint: Two CLG funded projects have been completed in the last five years in Castle Point. These are the Canvey Seafront improvements and the Canvey Wick Biodiversity Reserve. EEDA have delivered the Canvey Seafront improvements scheme and spent £390,000 in 2005-06, £106,446 in 2006-07 and £652,990 in 2007-08. The Land Restoration Trust spent £35,000 on the Canvey Wick Biodiversity Reserve project.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department plans to spend on  (a) the provision of new Gypsy and Traveller sites and  (b) the refurbishment of existing Gypsy and Traveller sites in (i) Lancashire and (ii) England in each year between 2008 and 2012.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government provides Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant for the provision of new Gypsy and Traveller sites and the refurbishment of existing sites in England. £33 million is available for the Grant in 2008-09, £32 million in 2009-10, and £32 million in 2010-11, of which £2 million in each year has been allocated to the north west. The bidding round for 2008-09 closes on 31 July.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Gypsy and Traveller camps there were in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England in each of the last three years.

Iain Wright: A bi-annual count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans is undertaken by local authorities and published by Communities and Local Government. Although the count lists authorised public sites it does not list authorised private sites or unauthorised sites.
	The following table sets out the number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans counted in the last three years in both Lancashire and England.
	
		
			   Number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans 
			   Lancashire  England 
			  2005   
			 January 223 15,369 
			 July 216 15,863 
			
			  2006   
			 January 262 15,746 
			 July 220 16,367 
			
			  2007   
			 January 282 16,611 
			 July 261 17,134

Westminster City Council

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what grants were made by her Department to Westminster City Council in each of the last three years; for how much in each case; what grants will be given in 2008-09; and for how much in each case.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table shows by year and by grant programme, funds which have been made available to Westminster city council by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008- 09 (p lan)  Total 
			 Revenue Support Grant(1) 163.6 25.9 24.0 21.5 235.0 
			 National Non Domestic Rates 74.0 134.2 142.9 154.3 505.4 
			 Supporting People 17.6 17.3 17.3 17.3 69.5 
			 Housing Revenue Account Subsidy 14.6 13.4 10.3 13.8 52.1 
			 Homelessness (inc Overcrowding) 6.7 6.6 7.1 6.7 27.1 
			 Hostel capital Improvement 5.1 0.5 0.5 — 6.1 
			 Capacity Building 4.6 3.3 3.3 — 11.2 
			 Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme(2) 3.8 12.2 — — 16.0 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 1.5 3.1 — — 4.6 
			 Housing Planning Delivery Grant 0.8 0.7 0.5 — 2.0 
			 Local Government On-line 0.9 1.0 3.3 — 5.2 
			 Disabled Facilities Grants 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.8 
			 Performance Reward Grants 0.4 2.6 2.1 — 5.1 
			 Civil Resilience (temporary mortuary costs) 0.3 5.0 — — 5.3 
			 Invest to Save—Special Grant 0.2 0.1 — — 0.3 
			 Local Area Agreements(3) — 1.1 10.1 — 11.2 
			 Area Based Grants(3) — — — 15.6 15.6 
			 Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund — — — 0.1 0.1 
			 Total 294.5 227.4 221.9 229.8 973.5 
			 (1) From 2006-07 Revenue Support Grants were reduced due to the transfer of funding to the Department for Children, Schools and Families for Dedicated School Grant. (2) On Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme, the figures provided for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are payments to date in relation to those years. (3) From 2008-09, the Area Based Grant (ABG) is replacing the old Local Area Agreements programme.

Zero Carbon Delivery Unit

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Zero Carbon Delivery Unit announced in the 2008 Budget will be established; and what funding has been allocated to it.

Caroline Flint: The 2016 task force is meeting on 5 June to discuss the detailed arrangements for establishing the zero carbon delivery unit announced in the Budget. The Government have agreed to provide pump priming funding on a match funding basis, the level of which will be dependent on the detailed business plan for the unit.

Doctors: Training

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of students undertaking medical education with a view to qualification as a doctor under the Widening Participation Scheme who are from  (a) white British and  (b) black Caribbean backgrounds in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: Ethnicity figures for all medical students in England are shown in table 1. Several medical schools run schemes to encourage applications from bright students from disadvantaged or non-traditional backgrounds. Data on admissions through these schemes are not collected centrally, but a recent article in the  British Medical Journal highlighted the success of the Extended Medical Degree Programme run by King's College London. Ethnicity figures for students on this programme are shown in table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK domiciled medical( 1)  enrolments by ethnicity— English higher edu cation institutions— 2006/07 academic year 
			  Ethnicity  Number  Proportion( 2)  (percentage) 
			 White—British 21,785 61.3 
			 Black or black British—Caribbean 180 0.5 
			 Black or black British—African 955 2.7 
			 Other ethnicities 12,595 35.5 
			 Total with known ethnicity 35,515 100.0 
			 Information refused 1,315 3.5 
			 Not know/missing 1,055 2.8 
			 Total 37,880 100.0 
			 (1) Medical includes students enrolled on the principal subjects Pre-Clinical Medicine and Clinical Medicine only. (2) Ethnicity proportions are calculated using the total with known ethnicity. Information refused and not known/missing proportions are calculated using the overall total.  Note: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Ethnic origin of King's College London EMDP students 2002-06 
			   Percentage 
			 White British 7 
			 Black African 35 
			 Black Caribbean 1

Equality

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will take steps to establish a strategy to tackle age discrimination and promote age equality in the provision of goods and services  (a) by the Department and  (b) within the sectors for which he has policy responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Government are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all learners, and that learning serves the needs of the whole community, including older people both within and outside the work force. Our strategy for World Class Skills and our reforms of wider adult learning are designed to ensure that everyone, whatever their age or background, has the opportunity to improve their skills, prospects and quality of life. We will continue to work closely with our ministerial colleagues to respond to the consultation on the Equality Bill—"A Framework for Fairness"—to ensure that everyone, in every community, can lead healthy and fulfilling lives by participating fully in work, education and society as a whole.
	Protection from discrimination on the grounds of age was introduced in the area of employment and vocational training through the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006. The Regulations mean that further education and training providers are not allowed to set age limits for access to training unless they can show objective justification why there is a real need to apply such limits. The Government have decided that all courses at Further Education and Higher Education institutions are covered by the age regulations, whether they are specifically vocational or more general in nature. This ensures that there is a unified and consistent approach to age-related practices and policies in relation to all such provision.
	I must stress that the Regulations do not bar providers from offering age-related fee discounts. Many colleges and other providers have longstanding, formal, informal and discretionary arrangements based on age when deciding eligibility for fee concessions. These are entirely at the discretion and cost of individual providers. I refer the hon. Member to the written statement of 16 May 2007,  Official Report, column 35WS by my hon. Friend the Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education (Bill Rammell):
	"Guidance on the vocational training aspects of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations is available on the DTI website. It is aimed at, amongst others, providers of further and adult education. The guidance makes it clear that age related practices, such as age related fee concessions, may be objectively justified where they are a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. It is for providers to produce evidence of such objective justification if called upon to do so, or to take their own legal advice if necessary. Guidance on objective justification is also available on page 30 of the ACAS guidance on the Age Regulations."

Higher Education: Admissions

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of  (a) state school and  (b) private school students in (i) the UK, (ii) Leeds Metropolitan District and (iii) Leeds West constituency were admitted to higher education in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: It is not possible to answer the question as it is posed. However, the following information is what is currently available.
	The proportion of young entrants to full-time first degree courses in the UK, who had previously attended a state school or college is shown in table 1. All schools or colleges that are not denoted 'independent' are assumed to be state schools. This means that students from sixth form or further education colleges, for example, are included as being from state schools. Information specifically on the percentage of private school students admitted to higher education is not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of young entrants to full-time first degree courses, who had previously attended a state school or college, UK higher education institutions, academic years 1997/98 to 2006/07 
			   Percentage 
			 1997/98 81.8 
			 1998/99 85.0 
			 1999/2000 84.9 
			 2000/01 85.7 
			 2001/02 86.0 
			 2002/03 87.2 
			 2003/04 86.8 
			 2004/05 86.7 
			 2005/06 87.4 
			 2006/07 87.8 
			  Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	HEFCE's "Young participation in Higher Education" publication includes the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency, although this only covers the years up to 2000 and is not available by school type. Participation rates based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website at:
	www.hefce.ac.uk/polar
	The proportion of young people from Leeds West constituency and from England, who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 is shown in table 2. Figures are shown under the year in which the cohort turned 18. Figures for Leeds metropolitan district are not available.
	
		
			  Table 2: Proportion of young people who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 
			  Percentage 
			   Leeds West constituency entering HE aged 18 or 19  England entering HE aged 18 or 19 
			 1997 13 29 
			 1998 14 29 
			 1999 14 29 
			 2000 13 30

Sixth Form Colleges: Governing Bodies

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department has issued guidance on whether the chair of the corporation of a sixth form college may also be a governor of the college.

Bill Rammell: The Instrument and Articles of Government for Further Education Corporations, which provide for the constitution and conduct of all colleges, require the members of the Corporation to appoint a Chair from within the governing body (section 6 of the Instrument refers). An individual may be a governor at more than one college. However the Instrument and Articles of Government require every member of the governing body to act in the best interests of the Corporation.

Vocational Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government has taken to prevent future skills shortages.

David Lammy: The Government have taken a wide range of action to support employers in securing the skills their businesses need to thrive both now and in the future. Our White Paper 'World Class Skills' was published last summer. It set out how we will shape the skills system around the needs of customers—employers and learners—to meet the challenge of competing in the global economy. Since then we have pressed ahead with making the skills system more demand led. This includes improving and expanding Train to Gain to help employers identify and address their skills needs. Since national roll-out began from April 2006, Train to Gain has engaged nearly 90,000 employers, enabled over 450,000 employees to begin learning programmes, and over 210,000 to gain new qualifications. We are working with Sector Skills Councils to develop sector compacts, earmarking Train to Gain funds specifically to support the skills those sectors need. Funding for the Apprenticeship programme is being increased, and the programme reformed, so that more employers and employees benefit from high-quality work-based training. National Skills Academies have now been approved in nine sectors.
	On higher skills, our recent consultation paper 'Higher Education at Work' has launched a national debate on what more needs to be done to meet the need for more—and more employable—graduates, and raise the skills of those already in the work force.
	A key aim in taking all these actions is that employers and the skills system get better at responding to future strategic challenges and opportunities—such as a low carbon economy, renewable energy, and the Olympics—focussing on the medium and long term as well as on immediate skills needs.
	Over the next three years we will be investing £2.3 billion on the modernisation and renewal of the Further Education estate, supporting investment in specialist new facilities in colleges and training providers, to build the capacity needed to meet our skills priorities.
	We are also taking action to make sure the employment and skills system is much better joined up. In April the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills started work. We are publishing today new proposals for more integrated employment and skills services that are more responsive to the needs of individuals and employers, with plans to ensure that delivery systems work more closely together, driven by those who know best how to shape services to meet local needs.

Chicken: Chlorine

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had at an EU level on the sale of chlorine-treated chicken for human consumption.

Dawn Primarolo: Although this issue falls within the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) area of responsibility, the FSA have made no representations to the European Union (EU) on the sale of chicken treated with chlorine intended for human consumption. Such processing aid treatments are not permitted in the EU or on chicken exported to the EU market.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 148 of his Department's Annual Report 2008, if he will provide a breakdown of the £800 million to be spent on arm's length bodies in 2008-09, broken down by body.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Disposition of national health services resources 2008-09 
			  £ million 
			  Arms  length bodies  Near cash  Non cash  Total 
			 Healthcare Commission 56.4858 2.8 59.286 
			 Mental Health Act Commission 5.0939 0.119 5.213 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant 56.62265 36.199 92.822 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 2.24105 0.351 2.592 
			 Human Tissue Authority 1.1343 0.378 1.512 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence 1.8525 0.179 2.032 
			 General Social Care Council 0.00015 2.158 2.158 
			 Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board 2.27525 0.995 3.270 
			 Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency 10.50415 — 10.504 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 34.098696 0.5 34.599 
			 National Patient Safety Agency 27.59845 1.157 28.755 
			 Health Protection Agency 140.0852 17.247 157.332 
			 National Institute for Biological Standards and Control 11.7173 6.184 17.901 
			 National Treatment Agency 0.5188 0.225 0.744 
			 Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health 0 — 0.000 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 2.41015  2.410 
			 NHS Appointments Commission 3.29745 0.03 3.327 
			 NHS Information Centre 33.14075 1.294 34.435 
			 NHS Business Services Authority 136.7335 13.041 149.775 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority 28.4077 0.108 28.516 
			 NHS Institute 77.81925 0.681 78.500 
			 Commission for Social Care and Inspection  14.8 14.800 
			 NHS Professionals 7.22 1.295 8.515 
			 Transition Costs 23.92175 0.6 24.522 
			 Departmental residual liabilities 3 — 3.000 
			 Departmental transfer to Office of Standards in Education 3.74145 — 3.741 
			 Total 669.9202 100.341 770.2612 
			  Notes:  1. Non cash relates to capital charges, depreciation and other non cash items.  2. These figures are indicative and may change during 2008-09.  3. NHS Litigation Authority clinical negligence resources of £1.2 billion excluded from this table and are shown separately on page 148 of the Departments Annual Report.  4. In 2008-09 General Social Care Council funding, in the report, is shown as being funded from the social services budget rather than from central health budgets, so no funding is shown against central health budgets for that year.  5. In 2008-09 the majority of National Treatment Authority's funding, in the report, is being shown as coming from the drug misuse budget with only a small element shown against 2008-09 central health budgets. In 2007-08 the total funding is shown against the central health budgets.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 160 of his Department's Annual Report 2008, if he will provide a breakdown of the arm's length bodies' budgets in figures 9.18 and 9.19 for each financial year.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Centrally managed national health service budgets (Table 9.18) 
			  £ million 
			  Arms' length bodies (ALBs)  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Healthcare Commission 59.564 56.486 
			 Mental Health Act Commission 5.413 5.213 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence 1.950 1.853 
			 Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board 2.395 2.275 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 32.819 34.599 
			 National Patient Safety Agency 29.051 28.755 
			 National Treatment Agency 11.854 0.744 
			 Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health 18.101 0.000 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant 50.466 56.623 
			 Health Protection Agency 1.026 0.000 
			 NHS Litigation Authority Administration 2.537 2.410 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 754.862 1,185.009 
			 NHS Appointments Commission 3.471 3.297 
			 Information Centre for health and social care 37.224 33.141 
			 NHS Business Services Authority 150.668 149.775 
			 NHS Institute 91.240 77.819 
			 NHS Professionals 7.600 7.901 
			 Transition cost offset -53.947 -41.658 
			 Departmental residual costs 1.200 3.000 
			 Total 1,207.494 1,607.240 
		
	
	
		
			  Central health and miscellaneous services budget 
			  £ million 
			  Arms' length bodies (ALBs)  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 2.359 2.241 
			 Human Tissue Authority 1.194 1.134 
			 General Social Care Council 9.437 0.000 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority 7.486 28.408 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 11.057 10.504 
			 Health Protection Agency 146.516 140.085 
			 National Institute for Biological Standards and Control 12.334 11.717 
			 Commission for Social Care and Inspection 54.385 63.350 
			 DH transfer to Ofsted 16.991 3.741 
			 Transition costs 53.244 67.582 
			 Total 315.003 328.7625 
			
			 Total Tables 1,522.497 1,936.003 
			  Notes:  1. At the time of providing these figures, for the Departmental Report, 2007-08 allocations were still being adjusted and 2008-09 indicative budgets were being issued. The final budgets/allocations for all ALBs may therefore be different.  2. The NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority is part funded from Department's administration budgets. In 2007-08 the administration funding is not included under the central health budgets line of the Report. The 2008-09 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority figure does include the administration funding.  3. In 2008-09 the general and social care council funding, in the report, is shown as being funded from the social services budget rather than from central health budgets, so no funding is shown against central health budgets for that year.  4. In 2008-09 the majority of the National Treatment Agency's funding, in the report, is being shown as coming from the drug misuse budget with only a small element shown against 2008-09 central health budgets. 5. The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health is closing down in 2008-09.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the policy of British jobs for British workers will affect his Department's recruitment policy.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) on 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2207WS.

Hepatitis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department gave to World Hepatitis Day on 19 May 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: As part of its ongoing hepatitis C awareness campaign, FaCe It, the Department specifically funded a series of activities to coincide with World Hepatitis Day, including:
	a touring exhibition of photographic portraits of people with hepatitis C which visited three towns in London—Croydon, Camden and Stratford;
	a day of radio interviews with Beach Boy, David Marks, who has had hepatitis C and media doctor/television presenter, Dr. Mark Porter; and
	promotion of press and radio features about case studies of real patients affected by hepatitis C, who work with the FaCe It campaign.
	My right hon. Friend, Secretary of State, offered a message of support for World Hepatitis Day.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what arrangements the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has in place to consider commercial interests when responding to freedom of information requests;
	(2)  what plans executive agencies of his Department have to review regulation of  (a) unlicensed medicines,  (b) off-label medicines and  (c) medicinal products specifically manufactured to meet the special needs of a patient;
	(3)  what regulations are in place to prevent the promotion of unlicensed medicines.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in conjunction with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and representative trade associations, has developed guidance on the disclosure of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. When considering the release of information which would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests, the MHRA will obtain the views of the person or company concerned before making a final decision to disclose or withhold the requested information.
	The MHRA is leading a review of the regulatory arrangements in the United Kingdom which allow an authorised health care professional to commission an unlicensed medicinal product to meet the special needs of an individual patient. The MHRA issued a discussion document in February 2008 and interested parties have been invited to submit views by 30 June. There are no plans to review off-label use of medicines.
	The Medicines (Advertising) Regulations 1994, as amended, prohibit the advertising of medicines which do not have a marketing authorisation, traditional herbal registration or homoeopathic registration in force. Additionally, the advertising of an unlicensed medicine for human use is prohibited under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisation Etc) Regulations 1994 as amended and Schedules 2 and 4 of The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005.

Palliative Care

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with  (a) care providers in the (i) private, (ii) voluntary and (iii) independent healthcare sectors and  (b) representatives of (A) insurers and (B) the Association of British Insurers as part of his Department's consultation on the future of care and support services.

Ivan Lewis: Ministers and officials within the Department have formal and informal meetings with stakeholders on a regular basis. In addition, care providers from different sectors are represented on the Department's national stakeholder forum.
	In specific relation to the care, support, independence project, we have set up a stakeholder panel with membership from care providers and insurers, including the British Association of Insurers. This Panel met on 6 April 2008 and further meetings are planned. In addition, representatives from these provider and insurance sectors are being asked to attend regional stakeholder events, scheduled between June and November this year, to discuss the key issues.